Brett Robson wrote:

> >And I don't know why you claim it would take six carriers or a force to rival
> >the US
> >Navy's to do it. It is not what many other energy dependent nations require.
>
> Other energy dependent nations have sold their souls to the US, or don't have to
> ship their oil half way across the world through notoriously dangerous waters.

So why is either selling one's soul to the US or having a force that can "rival" the
US Navy to protect the energy supply going through "notoriously dangerous" waters the
only ways you envision? Among other things, Japan could buy oil from Russia or
Argentina like the US did. They could also look for other sources of energy, use
less, or use lesser defensive measures like when they safely transported nuclear fuel
or MOX.

> >Japan already has decided to build one or two helicopter carriers, deciding to
> >call them destroyers, claiming they are not offensive.
>
> What is the range of a helicopter? What offensive weapons do naval helicopters
> have? Torpedeos. Naval helicopters have 3 roles, anti sub, recon, and search and
> rescue.

Helicopters can reach foreign territory or foreign ships while carrying arms from a
"destroyer", but that is irrelevant, as are Koizumi's increasing excuses over why the
Iraq decision among other SJDF actions, are not a violation of Article 9. What makes
them "naval" helicopters only, with torpedoes only, or such "non offensive" roles
only? Because they are flown from a "destroyer" based at sea?

> > As not offensive as having one of
> > the more modern armed forces on the planet and one of the world's largest
> > military budgets.
>
> Which for instance has no landing craft.

Japanese ships are landing craft.

> This Army ain't going nowhere.

The same nowhere that includes the Middle East halfway around the world, where Japan
has sent Japanese personnel or evacuated Japanese citizens from before by air and
sea, using SDF and commercial transport?

> The airforce has no refuelling aircraft -

Easily remedied.

> they would struggle to lob anything bigger than grenades at Nth Korea.

Japanese rockets would make nifty missiles, as rockets have always been. Japanese do
not see the irony of criticizing North Korea's missile or rocket programs while
trying to improve their own.

Are you admitting that Japan can attack a neighboring country?

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